Consumer Protection
Presented by:
Ruhi Kalra
Roll no-12112
Introduction
• Consumer rights are the rights given to a
"consumer" to protect him/her from being
cheated by
salesman/manufacturer/shopkeeper.
• Consumer protection laws are designed to
ensure fair trade competition and the free
flow of truthful information in the
marketplace.
• The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage
in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an
advantage over competitors and may provide additional
protection for the weak and those unable to take care.
• Consumer Protection laws are a form of
government regulation which aim to protect the
rights of consumers of themselves
• Consumer protection can also be asserted via non-
government organizations and individuals as consumer
activism.
Consumer law
• “Consumer law" is considered an area of law
that regulates private law relationships
between individual consumers and the
businesses that sell those goods and services.
• Consumer protection covers a wide range of
topics, including but not necessarily limited
to product, liability, privacy rights, unfair
business practices, fraud, misrepresentation,
and other consumer/business interactions.
Germany
• A minister of the federal cabinet is responsible
for consumer rights and protection.
• When issuing public warnings about products
and services, the issuing authority has to take
into account that this affects the supplier's
constitutionally protected economic liberty
Consumer protection act 1986, India
• The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, applies to
all goods and services, excluding goods for
resale or for commercial purpose and services
rendered free of charge and under a contract
for personal service.
• The provisions of the Act are compensatory in
nature.
• It covers public, private, joint and cooperative
sectors.
Rights under the act
• Right to be protected against the marketing of goods and services
which are hazardous to life and property
• Right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity,
standard and price of goods or services so as to protect the
consumer against unfair trade practices
• Right to be assured , wherever possible , access to a variety of
goods and services at competitive prices
• Right to be heard and to be assured that consumers' interests will
receive due consideration at appropriate forums
• Right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices and
exploitation of consumers
• Right to consumer education.
Consumer Courts: A three-tier-system
• National Consumer Dispute Redressal
Commission: claims above Rs. 20 lakh
• Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission or
State Commission: Claims from Rs 5 to 20
lakh.
• Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum or
District Forum: Claims upto Rs 5 Lakh
Complaint
• A complaint, hand written or typed, can be filed by a
consumer, a registered consumer organisation, central
or state Government and one or more consumers,
where there are numerous consumers having the
same interest.No stamp or court fee is needed.
• The nature of complaint must be clearly mentioned as
well as the relief sought by the consumer. It must be in
quadruplicate in district forum or state commission.
Else, additional copies are required to be filed.
Grant of relief
• Repair of defective goods
• Replacement of defective goods
• Refund of the price paid for the defective goods or
service
• Removal of deficiency in service
• Refund of extra money charged
• Withdrawal of goods hazardous to life and safety
• Compensation for the loss or injury suffered by the
consumer due to negligence of the opposite party
• Adequate cost of filing and pursuing the complaint
• Normally, complaints should be decided
within 90 days from the date of notice issued
to the opposite party.
• Where a sample of any goods is required to be
tested, a complaint is required to be disposed
of within 150 days; it may take more time due
to practical problems.
Consumer Protection Councils
• Councils have been setup in all states and at
the center to promote and protect the rights
and interest of consumers.
• These councils are advisory in nature and can
play important role in recommending
consumer oriented policies to the state and
central Government.
Thank you
